Galactic Activity 10

This activity will be run as a formal debate (i.e. two teams of three speakers). The speaker(s) will need to know the rules of debating, including their team’s position, and their specific speaking position, beforehand, and will need to collaborate with their team to ensure a cohesive approach. See the website for the rules of debating

Activity 10 – Debate

Duration: 30 mins
Applicable Streams: Personal Challenge, Learning & Development, Workplace Skills, Education, Meeting Skills

Aim

In this activity you are aiming to:

Inform or entertain your audience with a robust and meaningful debate.

Objectives

To do this, you will need to keep the following objectives in mind:

  1. Understand and follow the rules of debating.
  2. Take a clear position (in the affirmative or negative team).
  3. Prepare and deliver your speech relevant to your position in the team, i.e. first, second or third speaker.

The Why…

Ideas may be suggested in a workplace or community situation which need to be ‘debated’, i.e. discussed in a way which will lead to a group consensus or decision. Some people may need to be persuaded to take a different view in order to reach this.

Skills will build:

  • Introducing arguments in a logical and coherent way to support a position.
  • Listening skills.
  • Rebuttal (responding to / disproving) of other arguments.
  • Persuasive skills.
  • Thinking on your feet.
  • Teamwork.

Where do I start?

Search for ‘debate procedure’ and you will find a plethora of resources that will explain the structure of a debate and the roles of all speakers on both sides including the order in which you should speak, and the contents of your speech.

Brainstorm with your team – what your arguments will be, and what the likely arguments of the other team will be so that you can prepare rebuttal arguments in advance.

The How

Specific guidelines on how to tackle this activity.

Study the rules of Debating. Follow the rules for your assigned position (e.g. the lead speaker can prepare their speech fully beforehand, but subsequent speakers will need to listen carefully and make notes and in order to respond to the previous speakers’ arguments and points, whilst still focussing on their team’s position).

Variations: Debate with another club or outside organisation

Tips and traps

TRAPS:

  • Delivering a prepared speech without attention or response to points raised by the opposition. The point of the exercise is to win the argument by persuading the audience and refuting the other position to the point that people will vote for your team’s position.
  • Spending too much time rebutting the others’ arguments, so that not enough time is left to make your own arguments clearly and with conviction.

TIPS:

  • Prepare as many rebuttals or counter arguments as possible so that you’re as prepared as possible.
  • Try to choose arguments that are hard to rebut (as opposed to arguments that are easy to find convincing opposing arguments to)

Guidelines for Program Director:

  • Nominate team members and their positions.
  • Advise all members of the other team members names, contact details, etc. so that they can prepare.
  • Give plenty of notice.
  • Encourage teams to work together on creating a solid team argument including pre-prepared rebuttals.